This is one of the oldest open-air museums in Europe, featuring 118 old buildings from all cultural and historical regions of Latvia.  You’ll be able to our farms, craftsmen’s and fishermen’s farms (including Liv ones), and a farm once owned by Russian Old Believers in Latgale.  Annual celebrations are held, and educational programmes are available.  Craftspeople do their work at the museum, and you can quench your thirst at the Priede saloon. 

This route is best for active hikers who want to travel down the valley of the mightiest river in the Baltic States to see lovely landscapes and feel powerful emotions.  The route begins in Sigulda, which has been known as the Switzerland of Vidzeme and offers some of the loveliest views in Latvia.  The route crosses the deep valleys of several Gauja River territory, offering a look at shores that are known at the Baltic level for their mighty Devonian cliffs.  The nature trails in Līgatne are the only place in Latvia to see forestland that is close to natural circumstances, with forest animals living in large fenced areas so that they can be seen.  There are also animals and tracks of their activities out in the wild as you walk down the forest and other trails of the Gauja National Park.

Route information from Latvijas Lauku forums

This part of the Forest Trail passes through the historical centre of Valmiera. In Valmiera you can visit St. Simon’s Church, the Ruins of the Livonian Order Castle and Valmiera Museum. We also suggest walking the barefoot trail in “Sajūtu Parks” (Park of Senses). After sightseeing in Valmiera, the Forest Trail goes through Atpūtas (Recreation) park, the beautiful pine forest and Baiļi winter ski centre. Further on you will walk along the River Abuls Trail, curving along the banks of the river until reaching the Brenguļi brewery built in an old Hydroelectric power plant. You can enjoy unfiltered and unpasteurised beer here. Further down you will enter unpopulated forest areas and the Northern Gauja protected landscape area.

The forests in Northern Gauja (“Ziemeļgauja”) are very diverse. There are old or natural boreal (northern) forests and marsh forests, oak forests, alluvial forests (formed on river sediments which periodically flood) and mixed oak, wych elm and ash forests along the river. The tour will end in Strenči Town.

Vieta, ko nekādi nevar uzskatīt par tūrisma objektu, bet tajā pat laikā tas ir Latvijas mērogā nozīmīgs kultūras un vēstures piemineklis, ko nevar nepieminēt! Laikā no 1923. – 1943. gadam muižas pilī atradās Latvijā zināmākā mājturības skola, kurā mācījās izslavētās kaucmindietes! Tagad muižas pils ir pamesta, avārijas stāvoklī un apskatāma tikai no ārpuses un „pa gabalu”. Ap 1780. gadu celtā pils, kas 1909. – 1912. g. tika pārbūvēta pusloka būvapjomā, ir Latvijai diezgan unikāls arhitektūras paraugs.

The spoon workshop offers useful objects such as wooden spoons, cutting boards, butter knives, pans, spatulas, etc. You can produce your own wooden spoon and look at finished spoons made of more than 17 different types of wood from Latvia. During the summer the owners offer “pancake tours” with tasty jams. You can purchase spoons and homemade wine.

Documents show that the first windmill was built here in the 13th century along with the Kuldīga Castle.  During the rule of Duke Jacob, gunpowder was manufactured at the windmill, and it later became the first place in Kurzeme where paper was manufactured.  The building took on its current appearance during the 19th century.  During the Soviet occupation, a metal processing workshop was in it.

This chapel is interesting in form and made of field stones.  It was built in the 19th century and is not open to the public.

This is the first national park in Estonia and the Baltic States. Perfect for a day trip out from Tallinn for a hiking trip and nature watching. It was established in 1971 to protect the area that is along the Bay of Finland – the shoreline, forests, swamps, meadow biotopes, species, natural monuments, rocks, waterfalls, cliffs and cultural monuments such as ancient cemeteries, castle hills, baronial estates, fishing villages, etc.

Atrodas 0,3 km ziemeļos no Vecpiebalgas pilsdrupām. Ap 10 m augsto, bet visnotaļ izteiksmīgo Grišku kalnu sauc arī par Piebalgas, Balgas un Veļķu pilskalnu. 13. gs. šeit bijusi svarīga apmetnes vieta ar mākslīgi nostāvinātām nogāzēm un dziļu aizsarggrāvi. Vēstures notikumi ir atstājuši ap metru biezu kultūrslāni. Bezlapu laikā no kalna paveras skats uz Vecpiebalgas baznīcu un pilsdrupu vietu. Pilskalna piekājē ir aka ar Griškavotu.

The restaurant is in Lielā Street in the centre of Talsi, offering food from the cookbooks of grannies and the global cuisine, as well as an extensive wine list. The restaurant works with local farmers.

Latvian cuisine: Sauerkraut soup with roast breast of pork, wild mushroom and grit soup, herring with cottage cheese, porridge, sautéed roast with sauerkraut, roast lamb, cottage cheese buns, Latvian beers.